Q: Regarding the NBA and how they decide to handle the Terry Rozier situation, why not just give us a $26.6 million trade exception and call it a day? – Aram, Raleigh, N.C.
A: Because now that Congress has gotten involved, starting with Wednesday’s closed-door meeting between the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and NBA officials, pressure will likely increase for a more decisive action with Terry Rozier (fair or otherwise). That could result in his contract simply being wiped from the Heat’s books sooner rather than later, perhaps coinciding with his Dec. 8 arraignment in Brooklyn federal court. But, again, that does not create a trade exception or even space under the salary cap for the Heat. All it does is give the Heat greater leeway under the luxury tax to add two more players to get the standard roster to the 15-player maximum. With Bam Adebayo now ailing, any cap relief would be much-needed found money.
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Q: The Heat do not need any more headaches – Pilda.
A: This was in response to Ja Morant’s issues in Memphis and potentially being available in a trade. But before writing off a prospect simply because of prior issues, consider how this in some ways mirrors one of the first moves of Pat Riley’s tenure when he took on Tim Hardaway when Tim had fallen out of the Warriors’ rotation and was viewed as disgruntled. Sometimes you have to take a big swing with a big risk to get a sizable payoff. What the Heat can’t do in a Morant trade is part with a draft pick. No more sacrificing of the future, a lesson that should be learned from the Terry Rozier trade.
Q: In my opinion, the NBA Cup does nothing for me but it’s good for the players, especially those not making the big bucks. – Pipsy.
A: First of all, the lowest salary in the NBA, which is for two-way players, is $636,435 this season. So I’m not sure about anyone in the league “not making the big bucks.” As it is, players on two-way deals get half the bonus money from the NBA Cup than those on the standard deals. For those keeping track, with the Heat opening their NBA Cup schedule on Friday at home against the Hornets, players on teams advancing to the knockout round receive a $53,093 bonus each. Players appearing in the semifinals receive $106,187. Players on the losing team in the championship game receive $212,373. Players on the title team receive $530,933.
